Undocumented immigrants may get a law license in Calif., but noncitizens still can’t serve on juries

Careers

Undocumented immigrants may get a law license in Calif., but noncitizens still can’t serve on juries

By Debra Cassens Weiss

Oct 8, 2013, 11:52 am CDT

California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill that allows immigrants who are not U.S. citizens to get a law license in the state.

California is the first state in the nation to allow undocumented immigrants to get law licenses, the San Jose Mercury News reports. Brown signed the bill “as part of a flurry of pro-immigrant legislation approved in recent weeks,” the story says.

He vetoed one bill, however, that would have allowed jury service by lawful permanent residents who are not citizens.

Lawmakers passed the law-license bill in response to the pending California Supreme Court case of Sergio Garcia, who has passed the bar and hopes to practice law. Garcia was brought to the country illegally as a toddler by his parents and is waiting for his green card.

Garcia told NPR that being able to obtain a law license “is my life’s dream come true. One of two. I’m going for the U.S. citizenship next. I want to be a full part of this country.”